What hiker doesn’t know the sensation of letting their thoughts go wherever it desires to whereas strolling actually far? That’s what I do more often than not, though after I’m testing gear I usually attempt to be taking note of how the gear is performing.
I did slightly of each in my most up-to-date spherical of drugs testing, and my mind-wandering merged with my centered consideration right into a sequence of ideas I had fairly incessantly whereas testing the Patagonia Granite Crest Girls’s Rain Jacket:
Does Patagonia ever miss? What number of items of Patagonia attire and/or gear have I utilized in my lifetime? Oh wow, that’s truly actually exhausting to rely. Effectively, regardless, can I consider any of them which were disappointing? *Silence* … Wait, what was I enthusiastic about?
Whereas I can generate a “cons” record for many items of drugs if I’m being choosy, I’ve to say … Patagonia often will get it principally proper for me, and the Granite Crest Rain Jacket is not any exception.
Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket At-a-Look
MSRP: $279
Weight: 12.6 oz | 357 g
Match: Common
Supplies: 3-layer H2No® Efficiency Customary NetPlus® 100% postconsumer recycled nylon ripstop with a PFC/PFAS-free sturdy water-proof (DWR) end
Males’s Granite Crest rain jacket right here
Circumstance of Evaluate
I examined the Granite Crest Rain Jacket all through fall and winter whereas climbing and working in Michigan, New York, and Kentucky. Climate situations have been principally chilly and included scattered showers, heavy rain, snow, and my private favourite, wintry combine. The jacket carried out effectively in all situations.
Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket Options
Waterproofing at work.
Waterproofing
It really works! It’s possible you’ll not realize it, nevertheless it rains a LOT the place I dwell in decrease Michigan. I’m speaking Seattle-level rain. The truth is, the typical inches of rain in Ann Arbor and Seattle are practically similar, plus it snows fairly a bit extra in Ann Arbor. So I had no drawback testing the waterproofness of this jacket.
I spent hours out in moist situations and by no means actually had any points. After all, I needed to take care of moisture contained in the jacket from perspiration (if water can’t get in, it can also’t actually get out — “waterproof breathable” is a little bit of a misnomer in my view). However the vents (see under) helped a ton with that and total I stayed heat and cozy.
Along with the truth that the waterproofing works, it’s further cool to me that this jacket is created from recycled fish nets, which helps scale back ocean plastic air pollution. We’d like extra of such a conscientiousness within the out of doors business, and from firms usually.
Double bonus: all three layers of this shell and the sturdy water-proof (DWR) end are made with out perflourinated chemical compounds (PFCs/PFAS), that are human-made chemical compounds that don’t happen naturally, don’t break down within the surroundings, and have been linked with dangerous well being results in animals and people. I really feel so relieved by that.
The supplies and waterproofing are among the many key options that set the Granite Crest aside from Patagonia’s ever-popular Torrentshell. The Granite Crest is simply barely higher fitted to all-day motion on the path in moist situations.
Hood
After I check a chunk of drugs with a hood, I’m ready to criticize closely. I can’t stand when hoods aren’t designed to be simply and adequately adjustable. However I didn’t have any complaints! The changes are straightforward to achieve, straightforward to make use of, and the end result is a hood that matches near the face and that doesn’t block peripheral imaginative and prescient.
The hood is the opposite characteristic that simply barely units the Granite Crest aside from the Torrentshell, because the Torrentshell isn’t helmet appropriate.
Peripheral imaginative and prescient intact!
Vents
The 2-way vents have watertight zippers that enable for efficient air flow in excessive output efforts. It takes lots to get me feeling too heat when it’s moist and chilly, so I didn’t have a ton of alternatives to make use of these. However after I did, they have been straightforward to work and offered efficient air flow with out considerably compromising safety from the weather.
Pockets & Zippers
The zippers are watertight and the primary entrance center zipper has a zipper storage in order that it doesn’t rub in your chin/face. The very tall pockets will let you nonetheless suit your arms within the pockets while you’ve bought a backpack, harness, or another type of obstructing hipbelt on.
The jacket can be packable into the chest pocket. I personally don’t care that a lot when jackets can compact inside a backpack anyway, nevertheless it’s a pleasant choice.
Patagonia Granite Crest Execs
I’ve bought two layers on underneath this, together with one with a hood. Nonetheless loads of house and mobility isn’t impaired. Sleeves are a bit lengthy.
Relaxed Match
Don’t get me incorrect, I really like a superb fits-like-a-glove rain jacket or one thing with much less further house, just like the OR Helium. Extra slim becoming and fewer spacious jackets just like the Helium are nice for path working or thru-hiking in principally dry situations (e.g., most trails within the western US).
However the Granite Crest is a extra versatile alternative that can be utilized as a stand-alone rain jacket, or as a part of a variable layering system. I wore it as a stand-alone piece a lot of instances in barely hotter situations, with only a wool baselayer beneath. I additionally paired it with my Melanzana fleece hoody, and with a long-time favourite combo: a wool baselayer and the Arc’teryx Atom Jacket.
It was straightforward to cinch in further materials after I was carrying the Granite Crest as a stand-alone piece, and it was by no means bunchy as a part of a layering system. I’m 5’2”, weigh about 110lbs, and I examined an XS. I didn’t notice till later that the Granite Crest additionally is available in an XXS, which can have match simply barely higher on reflection.
Versatile
As a thru-hiker, it may be tempting to attempt to reduce as many ounces as attainable by buying gear that’s purpose-built for the ultralight backpacking crowd.
When you’ve got the cash to try this, wonderful. When you don’t, you is likely to be clever to think about one thing you should use in additional eventualities than simply thru-hiking. The Granite Crest can be a good selection for that.
It’s helmet appropriate, the tall pockets will let you nonetheless put your arms in them with a harness or hipbelt on, it might face up to prolonged excessive output exercise in moist situations, and it’s roomy sufficient for a spread of stable layering programs beneath.
Plus, in my view, it’s truthfully good to have a heavier rain jacket on a thru-hike. You by no means know while you’re going to get caught in a number of consecutive days of nonstop rain and be glad you’ve it. I realized this the exhausting method with many moments of Sort 3 enjoyable.
Sturdy
After six months of use, I see zero indicators of damage and tear. To be truthful, I’m fairly neurotic about taking good care of my gear, however I don’t assume that’s why that is nonetheless trying so sharp. I believe it’s only a high-quality piece of attire.
Ethics
As all the time, I’m not simply reviewing the gear, but in addition the corporate that creates it. Patagonia is extensively praised for doing its finest to guard the earth as our treasured playground, and likewise to respect the people who’re making the clothes and equipment we purchase.
I’ll maintain awaiting indicators of concern, however usually after I purchase one thing from Patagonia I don’t really feel as fearful that I’m truly harming somebody or the planet or each. The true kicker is that if you happen to actually wish to offset social and environmental impression, you may also purchase gently used clothes and equipment from Patagonia Worn Put on. I extremely advocate checking that out.
Patagonia Granite Crest Cons
Good for all kinds of actions, together with working if it’s actually pouring and chilly however you simply must get your miles.
Considerably Redundant With Torrentshell
The one con that I can assume is the Granite Crest could also be barely pointless. I get that firms are all the time making an attempt to create new merchandise, and I positively can inform a distinction between the Granite Crest and the Torrentshell, however total I believe it’s fairly minimal.
The texture of the Granite Crest is healthier and fewer “crinkly.” Nonetheless, I believe it’s exhausting to justify the additional $100 the Granite Crest prices over the Torrentshell.
Total
The Granite Crest is now amongst considered one of my prime go-to rain jackets. If I’m being utterly trustworthy, I nonetheless choose the Arc’teryx Beta FL hardshell I examined a pair years in the past. That jacket has been discontinued, however I believe I’d really feel equally concerning the Beta AR.
Nevertheless, these jackets are made out of Gore-Tex, which incorporates the PFAS I discussed above. These “endlessly chemical compounds” are in every single place, not simply in our rain gear, nevertheless it appears we’d be clever to restrict our contact with them as a lot as attainable and it seems they’re quickly to be banned from our raingear.
I haven’t determined if I’ll proceed to put on Gore-Tex but — I’m a scientist and I would like extra info. However you possibly can guess I’ll be reaching for the Granite Crest within the meantime.
Store the Girls’s Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket
Store the Males’s Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket
Comparable Objects
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L
MSRP: $179
Black Diamond Stormline Rain Shell
MSRP: $180
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The Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket was donated for function of assessment.
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